Combination matchbook and throw-away ash tray



Jan. 1 1959 c. F. MCFAUL 2,868,362

COMBINATION MATCHBOOK AND THROW-AWAY ASH TRAY I Filed Nov. 22, 1955 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 C. F. M FAUL Jan. 13, 1959 COMBINATION MATCHBOOK AND THROW-AWAY ASH TRAY Filed Nov. 22, 1955 a Sheets-Sheet 2 i W, i I

I INVENTOR. (Ml/oi F. M0 404 c. F. MCFAUL 2, comsmmxon MATCHBOOK AND THROW-AWAY ASH TRAY Jan. 13, 1959 3 She ets-Sheet 3 Filed Nov., 22, 1955 FIG-la INVENTOR. (241/0! 5 McF- COMBINATION MATCHBOOK AND THROW-AWAY ASH TRAY Claude F. McFaul, San Francisco, Calif., assignor to glau tle McFaul Corporation, a corporation of Caliornla Application November 22, 1955, Serial No. 548,445

1 Claim. (Cl. 206-38) The invention relates to paper matchbooks and to the.

association therewith of a disposable ashtray.

An object of the present invention is to provide a combination matchbook and ashtray of the character described in which the ashtray or ash receiving compartment is ever present, handy and ready for use and is completely safe in such receiving use, and wherein the ash receiving compartment will fold up with the matchbook to provide a neat, trim, compact, clean and completely sealed unit which may be conveniently carried in pockets, purses and the like without spillage of the contents of the ashtray.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a combination matchbook and ashtray of the character above which is adapted for low cost, mass production from abundantly obtainable materials ideally suited for the present use and providing a unit of excellent character and of long life considering the completely expendable nature of the device.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a combination matchbook and ashtray of the character described wherein the ashtray is adapted for re-use and may be conveniently removed from an expended matchbook and re-used with a new matchbook.

Still another object of the present invention is to provide a combination matchbook and ashtray of the character described which will afford improved utility and also improved advertising value over the conventional matchbook.

The invention possesses other objects and features of advantage, some of which, with the foregoing, will be set forth in the following descriptions of the preferred form of the invention which is illustrated in the drawing accompanying and forming part of the specification.

It is to be understood, however, that variations in the showing made by the said drawing and description may be adopted within the scope of the invention as set forth in the claims.

Referring to said drawing:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a combination matchbook and ashtray constructed in accordance with the present invention.

Figure 2 is a perspective view similar to Figure 1 but showing the ashtray in partially removed position.

Figure 3 is a perspective view of the ashtray in a fully removed position and as setup for separate use.

Figure 4 is an exploded perspective view of the parts making up the ashtray.

Figure 5 is a perspective view of a modified form of the matchbook and ashtray.

Figure 6 is a front elevation on a reduced scale of a blank folded in part to indicate the construction of the ashtray used in the modified form illustrated in Figure 5.

t Figure 7 is a front elevation on a reduced scale of the blank illustrated in Figure 6 but in fully opened up form.

Figure 8 is an exploded perspective view of the several parts making up the matchbook and ashtray as illustrated in Figure 5.

atent Figure 9 is a perspective view of a further modified form of the combination matchbook and ashtray.

Figure 10 is an exploded perspective view of the ashtray portion of the unit illustrated in Figure 9.

Figure 11 is a front elevation on a reduced scale of the blank from which the ashtray is in part formed.

Figure 12 is an exploded perspective view of the unit as illustrated in Figure 9 showing the removal of the ashtray upon using up of the matches.

The combination matchbook and ashtray of the present invention utilizes a matchbook of more or less conventional form composed of a cover sheet 6 turned up at one end 7 to provide a match striking strip 8 and a base pocket 9, and is formed intermediate itsends with a top fold 11 defining a rear cover wall 12 and a depending front wall 13 extendable from the top fold 11 into the pocket 9 to provide a closed position; oneor more rows of paper matches 14 having integral base strips 16 securedin the pocket 9 as by a staple 17 andupper ignitable heads 18 which are normally positioned within the top fold 11; an open-top ash receiving compartment 19 which is positioned between the matches 14 and the rear wall 12 and is formed to open and close upon flexing of the rear wall to and from the matches; and a flap 21 on the compartment which is foldable over the match-heads 18 in the open position of the compartment as illustrated in Figure 1 so as to protect the match-heads 18 against ignition during the use of the compartment as by the movement of the lighted end 22 of a cigaret 23 into position over the open top of the compartment, as suggested in phantom line in Figure 1, so as to knock off the ashes into the compartment, the lighted end 22 in such case being positioned directly over the match-heads 18; it being finally noted that the cover sheet 6 and the top fold thereof completely close off and seal the top of the compartment 19 in the closed position of the matchbook.

Preferably and as an important feature of the present invention the ash receiving compartment 19 is formed of metal foil which is manufactured in very large volume for a variety of purposes and is available at low cost in either thin metal sheets or metal foil paper-laminated sheets. The latter form is preferred in the interests of low cost and use of the paper lamination for gluing, printing, etc, Only the thinnest layer of metal is required at the interior of the ashtray to dissipate the heat and safeguard the matches against accidental ignition. In the form of the invention illustrated in Figures 1 to 4, the receptacle 19 is formed of a metal foil sheet or blank folded to provide opposite sides 26 and 27 which are joined at their transversely opposed edges 28 and 29 to effect an opening of the receptacle upon squeezing of the edges 23-29 together as suggested by the fingers drawn in phantom line in Figure 1; and a supporting sheet 31 of relatively stiffer material folded intermediate its length to provide an inverted fold 32 and arched walls including a rear wall 33 which is secured medially of its Width to the forward side 27 of the receptacle for the support thereof, and a forwardly disposed wall which provides the flap 21 above noted. As will be best seen from Figure 4, the opposite edges 36 and 37 of the blank are overfold-ed and glued together to provide the forward receptacle wall 27 and are superimposed upon and secured by an adhesive strip 38 provided medially and longitudinally on the rear cover wall 33 of the supporting sheet. The lower extremity 39 of the rear side 26 of the receptacle may be folded around the bottom and glued to the front side 27 of the receptacle to provide a sealed bottom and which is superimposed on and secured by an adhesive strip 41 provided at the bottom of the rear wall 33 of the supporting sheet. The suporting sheet 31 is preferably formed of metal foil, or at least is provided with a metal foil lamination, over the inverted fold 32 so as to protect the match-heads against ignition as above discussed. If desired, the cover sheet might be made of noninflammable or fire-resistant material or be appropriately treated to provide such qualities.

As a, feature of the present invention, the ash receptacle and its associated support sheet is especially designe d and constructed for optional use within and withoiita mat-chbook. In this connection the frontand rear walls of the container are dimensioned for insertion between the rows of matches and the rear wall of the matchbook, as illustrated in Figures 1 and 2 of the drawing, and the receptacle may be removed 'at will fr'omthe matchbook and used separately as suggested in Figure 3. In the latter arrangement the arched sides SS and 21 serve as an upright support for the compartment'l9. Also as will be seen in Figure 3 the inverted told 32 lies alongside of the top of the receptacle andserves as a back stop therefor, enabling the useof the receptacle top in cooperation with the fold as a horiiontally extending support for a cigaret "42 as suggested in phantom line in Figure'3. I i

As another feature of this form of the invention, the supporting sheet 31 has a width substantially .equal to the Width of the receptacle 19 and substantially equal to the width of the cover sheet 6 for the matchbook,and'to facilitate the manual engagement of the side edges.ZS- 29 of the receptacle for squeezing to open, as above described, the rear and front sides 33 and Zll of the supporting sheet are formed with aligned finger grooves 43'and d4 which are dimensioned to expose the opposite edgesof the receptacle for manual engagement between the thumb 4-6 and index finger 47 as suggested in phantom line in Figure 1.

As a further and important feature of the presentinvention, the main advertising display provided by the 'unit is on the supporting or frontis-sheet 31 which is rnanufactured separately from the receptacle itself. Thus the ash receptacle portion of the unit may be standardized and made up in large volume for use with an infinite number of frontis-sheets. Accordingly the display of an individual advertiser may be run in limited quantities on frontissheets which are thereafter glued or secured to the standard receptacle. In this manner only the frontis-sheets need be run through the printing operation for the in .dividual advertiser.

wise extended into the pocket 9. The provision of the finger grooves 4344 permit an optional opening of the front covers 13 and 21. If the fingers 46 and 47 are aligned with the grooves, the front cover 13 only will be engaged and withdrawn from the bottom pocket. It the fingers are moved from such aligned position, both covers may be simultaneously engaged and withdrawn from the bottom pocket so as to provide instant access to the matches.

A modified form of the invention is illustrated in Figures 5 to 8 of the drawings wherein the ash receiving compartment is fastened integrally with the matchbook. In this form of the unit the bottom $1 of the ash compartment 19a is mounted within the pocket 9a of the matchbook cover 6a and is fastened therein by the staple 17a used to bind the pocket and matchsticks together. The receptacle 19a is preferably folded up from a' blank 52 of metal foil having the shape depicted in Figure 7 so as to define an accordion si e-pleated generally V-shaped receptacle as illustrated in Figures 5 and 8. In such case the receptacle is not self-opening upon squeezing, as in the first embodiment, and to facilitate the opening of the receptacle, the rear side 26a is secured to the rear wall 11a of the matchbook cover so as to effect closing and opening of the receptacle upon flexing of the rear wall 12 to'and from the matches. This may be conveniently effected as here shown by providing a raised adhesive strip or extension 53 on the upper extremity of the rear side 26a of the receptacle and which may be glued to the inside face of the top fold lllla of the cover. The receptacle is formed, as suggested in Figures 6 and 7, by the folding in and overlapping of opposite side portions 56 and 57 and the acc ordion folding or pleating of intermediate V-shaped portions 58 and 59. A bottom extension 61 on the rear side 26a may then be folded up as indicated in Figure 6 and secured across the base of the overlapping portions 56 and 57 so as to seal 01f the bottom 51 of the bag. Extensions 62 and 6 3 on the upper extremity of portions 56 and 57 cooperate to provide a top strip for the forward side of the receptacle and which may be provided with adhesive 64 for fastening to the convex side of inverted fold portion 32a of the supporting sheet 31a. This arrangement facilitates the opening of the top of the compartment by the simple drawing apart of the cover and supporting sheets 6a and 31a. "Arse by forming the receptacle from 'inetal foil as here suggested, the fastening of the strips 62 and 63 over the inverted fold132a provides this portion with a match-head protective nietal' shield, as seen in Figure 5,. for the purposes above discussed.

The accordion-pleated expandable receptacle, as shown in Figures 5 to 8, will hold more ashes, butts, extinguished matches and the like than the receptacle illustrated in Figures 1 to 4, and when filled to near capacityfmay prevent the free end 66 of the front wall 13a of the matchbook cover from reaching the bottom pocket 9a. Accordingly and as a feature of the present invention the supporting sheet 31a is formed with a turned up end strip 67 defining a second pocket 68 which is nested within and provides a vertical extension of the pocket 9a. The base strips 16a of the matches 14a are mounted in this second pocket 68 as indicated in Figure 8, and the second pocket together with the bottom 51 0f the ash receptacle are inserted within the bottom pocket 9a of the matchbook cover and the whole assemblytied together by the staple 17a. The strip 67 is extended upwardly beyond the normal turned-up match striking strip tla so as to provide a latch for the front wall 13a of the cover sheet and also for the depending front flap or wall 21a of the supporting sheet in the expanded position of the receptacle 19a. The user thus has the option of inserting the lower ends of these two walls behind either the normal turned-up match striking strip lla or the further extended retaining strip 67. n The strips 8a and 67 also cooperate to provide a receiving slot therebetween for the lower ends of the covers after the matches have been torn out, thus facilitating the use of the ash receptacle after all of the matches have been removed.

A further modified form of the invention is illustrated in Figures 9 to 12 wherein the ash receptacle 19b is especially designed for removal from the matchbook upon exhausting the matches and re-use in a new matchbook. In the form here depicted the receptacle is folded up from a blank 51% as illustrated in Figure 11, to provide straight (as contrasted to V-shaped) side gussets 58b and 5%. Similarly to the bag form illustrated in Figures 5 to 8, the opposite side portions 56b and 57b may be folded inwardly into overlapping relation to provide a front Wall for the receptacle and which is secured as by gluing to the front wall 33b of the supporting sheet 31/). For this purpose the side sections 56b and 5712' are provided with vertical extensions 62b and 63b as in the preceding embodiment, which are adapted to cover the convex side of the inverted fold 32b to provide the metal foil protective coating therefor, as above discussed.

The rear side 26b of the receptacle is'formed with a bottom extension strip 61b which is folded around the bottom of the bag so as to provide a sealed construction The bag is fore-shortened relatively to the form shown in Figures 5 to 8 so that the bag bottom will lie above and be free from connection with the staple 17b, closing the bottom pocket of the matchbook cover and securing the matches therein.

As an important feature of this form of the invention, the rear side 26b is formed at its upper extremity with a tab extension 53b which may be secured, as by adhesive, to the inside of the top fold 11b of the matchbook cover sheet so as to effect opening and closing of the receptacle upon flexing of the rear wall of the cover sheet to and from the matches, and this tab extension is formed for tearing ofl? to thereby permit the removal and re-use of the receptacle. As will be observed from Figures 9 and 10, the tab extension 53b is joined to the back side 2612 in a series of perforations 71 defining a tear line, facilitating the removal of the receptacle 19b from the matchbook cover 6!) upon removal of all the matches as suggested in Figure 12. To facilitate the use of the receptacle 1912 with a second matchbook following its removal from a used matchbook, the rear side 26b of the receptacle is provided with a second adhesive portion 72 below the tear line for sticking onto the rear cover Wall of the second matchbook after insertion of the receptacle therein.

I claim:

A combination matchbook and ashtray comprising, a cover sheet turned up at one end to provide a base pocket and formed with a top fold intermediate its ends to define a rear cover wall contiguous to said pocket and a dependand close upon flexing of said rear Wall to and from said matches, and a third frontis sheet secured to said front side of said compartment, said frontis having an inverted fold positionable over said match-heads during the use of said ash receiving compartment, the laminated sheet of said front side extending over said inverted fold of the frontis so as to provide a metal foil covering therefor protecting said match-heads against ignition.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 673,399 Koester May 7, 1901 1,722,465 Gray July 30, 1929 2,151,031 Johns Mar. 21, 1939 2,349,488 Dement May 23, 1944 2,785,794 Schoenberger' Mar. 19, 1957 FOREIGN PATENTS 325,607 Great Britain Feb. 27, 1930 

